Shloka 8

Gradations of Bliss and Knowledge; Lakṣmī’s Special Insight; The Rarity of Bhakti in Kali-yuga; Nīlā’s Vow and Śrīnivāsa Darśana

Devanagari script

सहस्रगुणितत्वं च वायुना समुदीरितम् / यथानन्दे तथा ज्ञाने विष्णौ भक्तौ बलाधिके

Transliteration

sahasraguṇitatvaṃ ca vāyunā samudīritam / yathānande tathā jñāne viṣṇau bhaktau balādhike

Translation

وقد أعلن فايُو أن هذا يتضاعف ألفَ مرّة. وكما للنعيم درجات، فللمعرفة درجات؛ غير أنّ في البهاكتي لفيشنو تكون القوّة هي العليا.

Word by Word

• सहस्रगुणितत्वम्: the state of being multiplied a thousandfold
• सहस्रगुणितत्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक) + गुणित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + त्व (प्रत्यय)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (सहस्रेण गुणितम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; abstract noun in -त्व

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय

• वायुना: by Vāyu
• वायुना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• समुदीरितम्: was proclaimed
• समुदीरितम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-उद्-ईर् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (PPP); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• यथा: as
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमान/तुल्यताबोधक-अव्यय (correlative: as)

• आनन्दे: in bliss
• आनन्दे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आनन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• तथा: so/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/तुल्यताबोधक-अव्यय (so/likewise)

• ज्ञाने: in knowledge
• ज्ञाने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; Locative singular

• विष्णौ: in/with respect to Viṣṇu
• विष्णौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; Locative singular

• भक्तौ: in devotion
• भक्तौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; Locative singular

• बलाधिके: (where) strength is greater
• बलाधिके: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (बले अधिकः); पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; agrees with implied locus (e.g., विष्णौ)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tāratamya (degrees) exist in ānanda and jñāna, yet Viṣṇu-bhakti is declared balādhikā (supreme in power).

Vedantic Theme: Bhakti as the most efficacious upāya; gradation of sādhana-phala; supremacy of Viṣṇu as āśraya.

Application: Prioritize steady Viṣṇu-devotion (nāma, smaraṇa, pūjā) while cultivating knowledge; measure progress by increased steadiness and purity rather than mere intellectual gain.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (dialogic sections on bhakti-mahātmyam and gradation of phala; nearby verses 3.19.9–12)

Characters & Entities

• Vayu
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of Vishnu-bhakti in the Garuda Purana?

This verse ranks devotion to Viṣṇu as possessing the greatest spiritual strength, surpassing mere gradations of knowledge or experiential bliss.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death in the Garuda Purana?

Within the Preta Kanda’s post-death framework, the teaching emphasizes that inner spiritual power—especially devotion to Viṣṇu—serves as the most effective support for the jīva beyond changing states of pleasure or intellectual attainment.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate steady devotion (bhakti) alongside learning: daily remembrance of Viṣṇu, ethical conduct, and sincere prayer are presented here as the most strengthening spiritual discipline.